Northern Essex to Host Second Annual Networking Night

Jessica Castillo (NECC student) gets her LinkedIn portrait taken by Professor Lance Hidy.

Jessica Castillo (NECC student) gets her LinkedIn portrait taken by Professor Lance Hidy.

Northern Essex students and community business representatives are invited to attend NECC’s Second Annual Networking Night, taking place on May 19 in the Haverhill Campus Hartleb Technology Center at 100 Elliott Street. The event will run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and is free for all participants.

This networking night will help students become more comfortable in networking environments and build their professional communication skills. All NECC students are welcome to register. Employers are encouraged to use the opportunity to hire students for internships and part-time jobs at their companies.

The dress code is business casual to business professional. Resumes are not required for entry.

The networking night, in addition to giving students a chance to speak with real employers in a comfortable, low-stress environment, will include the opportunity to receive a professional LinkedIn profile photo, as well as a variety of light refreshments and presentations. Staff members will be on site to answer questions as needed.

In order to participate in this year’s networking night, please register online.

For more information, or for sign language interpreting and special access requests (including those related to food allergies), please contact Deb LaValley at 978-738-7436 or dlavalley@necc.mass.edu.

Former Welder is NECC’s Student Commencement Speaker

Photos by Mike Dean www.mikedeanphotos.com

Raymond Florent, a resident of Merrimac, will be this years Student Commencement Speaker.

Raymond Florent, a Haverhill native now living in Merrimac, who is graduating from Northern Essex Community College with an associate degree in elementary education, has been selected as the student speaker for the college’s 54th Annual Commencement Exercises, which will be held on Saturday, May 21, on the Haverhill campus.

Born and raised in Haverhill, Florent is a 1999 graduate of Haverhill High School. He trained as a welder and was making a respectable living when a workplace injury sidelined him. Unable to return to the physical demands of a welding position, he accepted part-time work at an area amusement park designing sets and dressing as a cast member. He enjoyed the work, but realized it wasn’t a sustainable career.

Using his imagination, Florent saw himself blending his creativity with working with children. The seed for becoming an elementary teacher was planted. In 2013 he enrolled in Northern Essex’s Elementary Education program.

Initially, he saw Northern Essex as a means to an end. He would attend classes, graduate, and transfer into a four-year program. He couldn’t imagine socializing with traditional students, yet they gravitated toward this funny, smart, and charismatic teacher -in-training. Soon, he was elected a student senator; he participated in the student leadership program; became a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the community college honor society, and Psi Beta; joined the Pathways to Career and Academic Excellence (PACE) Program; joined the NECC Judicial Review Board, and volunteered for a number of local organizations including Emmaus House, Lazarus House, Cor Unum, the Community Outreach Group (COG), and local veterans’ charities. He is also a work study student in NECC’s Wellness & Fitness Center.

“Coming here I found a passion for education that I never had before,” Florent says. “It was so welcoming that I couldn’t get enough.”

Last fall, the PACE staff nominated Florent for the Massachusetts Educational Opportunity Association Scholarship Award. He was one of just five recipients to receive the award.

Florent will graduate in May with a near perfect GPA. He intends to transfer to either Merrimack College or Salem State University where he will work toward his bachelor’s degree in education.

He was nominated for this honor by Amanda Fregeau, academic advisor in the PACE Program; Karen Mitchell, director of the PACE Program; and Peter Flynn, professor of behavioral sciences.

Over 1,000 graduates will receive certificates and associate degrees at the college’s 53rd Annual Commencement, which will be help on Saturday, May 21, at 11 a.m. on Northern Essex’s Haverhill Campus.

Lawrence Attorney and NECC alumna Wendy Estrella will be the featured commencement speaker.

To learn more about commencement, visit the commencement website.

With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Northern Essex Community College offers over 70 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  More than 6,600 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 3,400 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  Northern Essex is the only state college located in the lower Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu.

Governor Baker, Higher Ed Leaders Announce Plan to Increase College Affordability

Commonwealth Commitment FacebookGovernor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito joined public higher education leaders on Thursday, April 21 to announce the Commonwealth Commitment, an innovative college affordability and completion plan to help more students achieve the dream of a college degree.

The Commonwealth Commitment, the first agreement of its kind in the nation, was signed by University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan, Worcester State University President Barry Maloney and Middlesex Community College President James Mabry, representing the three segments of the public higher education system, at a ceremony held at Middlesex Community College. The plan commits every public campus to providing 10* rebates at the end of each successfully completed semester to qualifying undergraduate students, in addition to the standard MassTransfer tuition waiver received upon entering a four-year institution from a Community College. Students who meet the program requirements will, depending on the transfer pathway they choose, be able to realize an average savings of $5,090 off the cost of a baccalaureate degree.

Also, as part of the Commonwealth Commitment’s goal to increase cost savings and predictability, tuition and mandatory fees will be frozen for program participants as of the date they enter the program.

Students will begin their studies at one of the state’s 15 community colleges, enrolling in one of 24 Commonwealth Commitment/Mass Transfer Pathways programs that will roll out in fall 2016 (14 programs) and fall 2017 (10 additional programs). They must attend full-time, and must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. After earning an associate’s degree in two and a half years or less, students will transfer to a state university or UMass campus to earn a baccalaureate degree.

“I am pleased that our higher education leaders have worked collaboratively to create this program to decrease the cost of a college degree and accelerate on-time completion,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Even though public higher education in Massachusetts is already a great value, the Commonwealth Commitment will make it even easier for students to go to school full-time and to enter the workforce faster and with less debt.”

“We know that extra support can make the difference for our students, many of whom attend part-time while balancing jobs, families, and transportation challenges with their classes.  Thanks to the Commonwealth Commitment, more lower and middle class families will be able to afford college, and attend full-time.  They can use their 10 percent savings where they need it, for tuition, books, transportation, or child care.  By worrying less about money, they will be more likely to succeed in college,” said Lane Glenn, president of Northern Essex Community College.

At the end of every successfully completed semester, students will earn a 10* rebate on tuition and fees, payable in the form of a check, or may opt to receive a voucher to use for books or other education-related expenses. The program does not discount room and board, although students may choose to use their Commonwealth Commitment savings or other resources to offset some of those costs. Students’ rebates or vouchers will be calculated based on the total cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the institutions they choose to attend. Additionally, students who enroll in free or reduced cost dual enrollment programs, taking college courses while still in high school, may be able to apply the credits they earn toward their Commonwealth Commitment degrees, thus reducing costs even further.

Further information is available at www.Mass.edu/MAComCom.

To learn more about transfer opportunities at Northern Essex Community College, contact Enrollment Services, 978 556-3700 or admissions@necc.mass.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

NECC Music Students Present Final Projects

The students in two Northern Essex Community College music courses will present their final musical pieces during a recital on Monday May 2, at 6 p.m. in the Technology Center.

This event is free and open to the public. The recital includes the students from the Music Technology Composition course and the Audio Recording II. The Music Tech: Composition students will present one of their compositions. The Audio Recording II students will play their final mix of a song recorded during the semester. Each student will give a brief presentation on the specifics that went into their individual projects and will share their thoughts.

For additional information contact music professor Michael Lecuyer at mlecuyer@necc.mass.edu

Northern Essex offers an Associate in Arts Degree: Music Option and a certificate in music technology.

Former Welder Selected Student Commencement Speaker

Raymond Florent, a resident of Merrimac, who is graduating from Northern Essex Community College with an associate degree in elementary education, has been selected as the student speaker for the college’s 54th Annual Commencement Exercises, which will be held on Saturday, May 21, on the Haverhill campus.

Born and raised in Haverhill, Florent is a 1999 graduate of Haverhill High School. He trained as a welder and was making a respectable living when a workplace injury sidelined him. Unable to return to the physical demands of a welding position, he accepted part-time work at an area amusement park designing sets and dressing as a cast member. He enjoyed the work, but realized it wasn’t a sustainable career.

Using his imagination, Florent saw himself blending his creativity with working with children. The seed for becoming an elementary teacher was planted. In 2013 he enrolled in Northern Essex’s Elementary Education program.

Initially, he saw Northern Essex as a means to an end. He would attend classes, graduate, and transfer into a four-year program. He couldn’t imagine socializing with traditional students, yet they gravitated toward this funny, smart, and charismatic teacher -in-training. Soon, he was elected a student senator; he participated in the student leadership program; became a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the community college honor society, and Psi Beta; joined the Pathways to Career and Academic Excellence (PACE) Program; joined the NECC Judicial Review Board, and volunteered for a number of local organizations including Emmaus House, Lazarus House, Cor Unum, the Community Outreach Group (COG), and local veterans’ charities. He is also a work study student in NECC’s Sport & Fitness Center.

“Coming here I found a passion for education that I never had before,” Florent says. “It was so welcoming that I couldn’t get enough.”

Last fall, the PACE staff nominated Florent for the Massachusetts Educational Opportunity Association Scholarship Award. He was one of just five recipients to receive the award.

Florent will graduate in May with a near perfect GPA. He intends to transfer to either Merrimack College or Salem State University where he will work toward his bachelor’s degree in education.

He was nominated for this honor by Amanda Fregeau, academic advisor in the PACE Program; Karen Mitchell, director of the PACE Program; and Peter Flynn, professor of behavioral sciences.

Over 1,000 graduates will receive certificates and associate degrees at the college’s 53rd Annual Commencement, which will be help on Saturday, May 21, at 11 a.m. on Northern Essex’s Haverhill Campus.

Lawrence Attorney and NECC alumna Wendy Estrella will be the featured commencement speaker.

To learn more about commencement, visit the commencement website.

 

NECC Chamber Ensemble Performs Free Concert

NECC Music Professor Christina Dietrich

NECC Music Professor Christina Dietrich

Northern Essex Community College’s Chamber Ensemble, under the direction of NECC Professor Christina Dietrich and Ingrid Marstaller, assistant to the director, will perform a free Spring Concert on Saturday, May 7 at 7 p.m. in the David Hartleb Technology Center on the Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliott St.

The performance will feature works by JS Bach, WA Mozart, H. Zimmer, and others .

Northern Essex offers an Associate in Arts Degree: Music Option and a certificate in music technology.

For further information contact Christina Dietrich at cdietrich@necc.mass.edu.

With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Northern Essex Community College offers over 70 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  More than 6,600 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 3,400 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  Northern Essex is the only state college located in the lower Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu.

NECC Announces Sleep Technology Open House

Jennifer Canfield

Northern Essex Community College will host an open house for its Sleep Technology Program on Thursday, April 21. Jennifer Canfield of Haverhill, a 2013 graduate, is shown in the sleep technology lab on the college’s Lawrence Campus.

Interested in a career in health care?  Consider attending the open house for Northern Essex Community College’s Sleep Technologist Certificate Program which will be held on Thursday, April 21 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the El-Hefni Allied Health and Technology Center, Room 301, 414 Common Street, Lawrence.

Those attending will learn about the daily tasks and challenges associated with the sleep technology profession, as well as have the opportunity to observe full patient set ups and laboratory preparation techniques. Current students and faculty members will be available to answer questions about the program and career opportunities in the field and give tours of NECC’s new sleep technology center.

Careers in sleep technology are expected to grow 27 percent between now and 2027 and graduates of the program have a 75 percent placement rate in the field. Sleep technologists and technicians reported an average hourly wage of $23.17 and an average salary of $47,660 per year.

Northern Essex Community College’s 28-credit certificate program offers its students hands-on instruction in the evaluation, treatment, and diagnosis of sleep disorders.

To learn more about the program, please visit www.necc.mass.edu. For additional information on the open house event, contact John Murray at jmurray@necc.mass.edu.

With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Northern Essex Community College offers over 70 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  More than 7,400 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 6,700 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  Northern Essex is the only state college located in the lower Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu.

NECC Plans Crime Scene Open House

A CSI Open House will be held on the Lawrence campus.

A CSI Open House will be held on the Lawrence campus.

Do you binge watch CSI shows? Do you think you would make a good crime scene investigator? Come and test your skills during Northern Essex Community College’s first Crime Scene Open House on Saturday, April 30, from 9 a.m. until noon in room E 252 on the Haverhill campus.

Northern Essex forensic science professor Mike Cross and criminal investigation professor Paul Cavan will guide participants from a staged crime scene through the various forensic stations including fingerprinting, fiber and blood evidence, crime scene photography, and suspect interviews. Participants may end their crime scene investigation with a presentation of their findings.

Work your way through crime scene forensic stations.

Work your way through crime scene forensic stations.

This open house is designed for high school students and their families as well as others interested in exploring a career in criminal justice at NECC.

The content of the open house is family-friendly.

For more information, or to register, visit www.necc.mass.edu/csi or contact

Professor Michael Cross at mcross@necc.mass.edu  or Professor Paul Cavan at

pcavan@necc.mass.edu

Here are the directions to the campus.

Northern Essex offers associate degrees in criminal justice and criminal justice: private & public safety option (accelerated) as well as a certificate in law enforcement.

With an ongoing focus on homeland security, opportunities for employment in the criminal justice field are continuing to grow. From law enforcement to the legal system, corrections to security, Northern Essex offers many career path opportunities to choose from.

At NECC, individuals can prepare for a career as a municipal police officer, state trooper, correction officer, or insurance investigator or be trained to work in probation, parole, the court system or security. The criminal justice program features programs to either enter the workforce directly or transfer to a four-year program.

NECC Dancers Present Spring Performance

Northern Essex community College Stillpoint dancers will perform during the spring show April 22 and 23. Left to right (back row) Tiffany Melo of Derry, Megan McCullough of Londonderry, and Nina Cabral of Pelham. Front row (L to R) Zaida Buzan of Haverhill, Katie Formosi of Groveland, and Michelle Zukowski of Tewksbury.

Northern Essex Community College Stillpoint Dancers will perform during the spring show April 22 and 23. Left to right (back row) Tiffany Melo of Derry, Megan McCullough of Londonderry, and Nina Cabral of Pelham. Front row (L to R) Zaida Buzan of Haverhill, and Katie Formosi of Groveland.

Dancers wearing headlamps and black sashes will perform a faculty-choreographed dance piece during Northern Essex Community College’s Stillpoint Dance XLIII spring dance performance on Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23, at 8 p.m. at Lawrence High School’s Performing Arts Center, 70-71 North Parish Road, Lawrence.

Tickets, which will be sold at the door, are $8 adults, $6 students & seniors, and $4 for children under 11.

Northern Essex dance students will perform both student and faculty pieces.  “Find Out, Finding Me” was choreographed by NECC dance coordinator Michelle Deane. It is an energetic, modern dance piece with the dancers donning head lamps and periodically dancing in blackout. This piece is about finding your way out of something, but in the process finding more about yourself in the discovery.

“Through the Dark,” was choreographed by NECC students Samantha Girrior of North Andover and Ashley Igartua of Haverhill. This intense, modern dance piece was submitted into the American College Dance Conference at Springfield College where it was well received by the adjudicators of the festival.

For additional information, contact Michelle Deane mdeane@necc.mass.edu or 978-556-3597.

NECC offers a certificate in dance education and an associate degree in general studies: dance.

ECMP Presents Concert of Four World Premieres Featuring Frost Poems

Essex chamber Music Players artistic director Michael Finegold will perform at the Sunday, April 17, concert.

Essex Chamber Music Players artistic director Michael Finegold will perform at the Sunday, April 17, concert.

The Essex Chamber Music Players (ECMP), in residence at Northern Essex Community College, will present the world premieres of four, new works in a concert on Sunday, April 17, at 2 p.m. in the Hartleb Technology Center on the Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St.

The concert will feature “Three Rustic Songs on Poems of Robert Frost”: “The Quest of the Purpled-Fringed,” “The Sound of Trees” and “Acceptance,” set to music composed by Stephen James.

The program also will include the full version of composer Elliott Miles McKinley’s “Of Memories…Of Love 1978.” The piece was created in memory of Joni Alicia Finegold, who died of cancer in 2012, the daughter of flutist and ECMP artistic director Michael Finegold of Andover.

Also premiering is Peter R. Farmer’s jazzy “Thoughts Returning” and Nathanial Akers’ “Flight of Change”, which is music in an “indies” style that includes a tribute to the late composer William Thomas McKinley.

The concert is part of ECMP’s Local Cultural History through Music project, which champions the poets of the Merrimack Valley.

The performers are soprano Adriana Repetto, clarinetist Hunter Bennett, violinist Andrew Kohji Taylor, cellist Patrick Owen, pianists Stephen James and Sara Bob, Finegold, and conductor Jane Ring Frank.

General admission tickets are $15.  Admission is free for Northern Essex Community College students with a college ID.

For additional information on the concert or the Essex Chamber Music Players, go to www.ecmp.org